Quitting meth on your own

[DuendeDaddy]

I have to quit a methamphetamine habit now. I'm giving myself one week to get over it. Any advice on how to lessen the sleepy, lethargic process?

[Ladykonnie]

Hi! Glad to hear you are a writer and want to write a story. I have been thinking about that for years!

Also when I said 'don't look back" , what I meant to say is: don't be hard on yourself about the past, don't dwell on anything that will set you back. Forgive yourself. Nothing but great blessings sent your way! Give us an update from time to time. Virtual hugs sent your way!!!

[DuendeDaddy]

Wow. I have "only" used for about two years, and have a lot of clean time mixed in there. You have seen the dark places within for sure.

Here is a Mayan parable that I found interesting:

A person from the tribe decides to take a journey to the underworld. The descend into darkness, and as they descend they encounter demons. These demons dismember them. As they struggle with the demons, they are faced with two choices. The first is to continue to struggle and descend, in which case they will be lost. The second is to "re-member" themselves and rise. If you can remember yourself, then you find a path back to the light, and upon emerging have lessons to impart to others.

And to yourself, I suppose. I develop those aspects of myself and let my self-image become what I want to be; what I believe I am; and what I am willing to work to become.

You gotta feel it. As I write this the morning sun is shining and I am about to go across the street to the park and enjoy it. That's who I am, and I have a chance to prove it to myself every day. Sound like a motivational talk? It is!

[mamaof4410]

Keep going. the rewards are so much more fulfilling when youre sober.
Some one on here posted "their worse day sober is better than there best day high"
It takes work everyday but eventually you'll know in youre head and in your heart how guilty and disappointed in yourself you will be if you use. That is what stops me. All that work will have been for nothing. The members above have given you some awesome advice. And we all swear by aftercare and meetings. It will show you your not alone in this fight!

[VICourageous]

Yep! Addiction is a Brain Disease and it takes lots of work to stay clean..No more playing in your old stomping grounds with your stomping friends.
I did my Crank in the 70-80s and one day just walked away never to go back...BUT I got on a 12 year ride with Methadone and was adding Adderral to it..OK, that was just like my Crank days SO??? But I have been clean from everything for a little over 20 months after using for about 40 years off & on.
Be Safe and keep your Guard Up! This Addiction is a Beast and it takes alot of work to stay clean..SUPPORT in all areas... You will feel the Blessing as you keep Spiritually Growing.
Bless & Keep Pushing Forward!

Congratulations for wanting your life back!!!!

[DuendeDaddy]

I really like three pieces of advice in your response:
1. sleep
2. stay away from the people
3. don't look back.

All harder to do than it looks, but I don't have to work right now. I'm healthy enough that I've started working out again, but that too requires sleep. Yes, you're right, rest is important!

As for the "don't look back" part, I have trouble with that. I'm a writer, and I find the process of writing about bad/weird experiences cathartic. I really want to write a story about the meth crowd, the stealing, the lying, the consequences.... It's an alien planet.

If I stay focused on my good habits I don't have time for bad habits. One crowds out the other.

Thanks for your input, and let's stay healthy!

[Ladykonnie]

When I kicked my meth habit I slept like I had never slept before it was about 2 weeks that I started feeling "normal". Why not sleep? Do you have a job to go to? Anyone depending on you?  Can you ask for help? That will be the best thing to do sleep is your body telling you it needs to rest.  I'm going to tell you that sleep is part of the detox process, the hardest thing for me, was staying away from all the people in that circle. You have to be strong. I was a meth addict for over 5 years. I quit meth cold turkey, over a decade ago. Stay hydrated. Take vitamins and most important NEVER look back.

[DuendeDaddy]

Off ice for over a month now, with one "slip" that just hardened my resolve not to get back on that sh*t. Getting pretty good at swatting away the pesky meth-heads that seem to call me out of the blue at exactly the wrong time.

The people are worse than the drug. They'll drag you back in if you give them an inch!

Wanted to comment on the addice personality. We are all compulsive to some degree, and maybe co-dependent as well. I find that pursuing just one really interesting activity with a good friend or two can take all that compulsive energy and channel it onto something healthy. I'm going hiking with a friend overseas in June. Planning trip has been engaging, and spending some time away just hiking every day will be HUGE.

From such little endeavors come big plans. If we pull this off, I want to do it every year. And add interested people to form a group. And we're off and running.

Best wishes!

[DuendeDaddy]

I hate 12-step meetings. Really. They make me want to go have a drink.

I agree with the follow-up or aftercare advice, however. For me it's exercise and life planning. I have a good psychologist who works with me on career/life planning issues. Now if I hire a trainer - just someone who expects to see me at a certain time twice a week - it will help keep me focused.

Yeah, this is hard. I think I would have used today if I had known where to go, but I'm not around a dirty crowd. There is something to be said for just leaving....

Taking it slow is so difficult for people with compulsive personalities, isn't it?

It's OK.

[Ldytaz]

I jumped off a 20 year addiction 17 years ago.did it ct and it was hard.I felt like crap for first 2 weeks then got so bored I went to work.My addict personality made me addicted to work for a very long time til I got injured.I worked 90-100 hours a week.Just keep on going.U need after care.I went o a meeting every night at first.Could hardly move but rode a bike every night.I kept going for 6 years at least 3 times a week.Just do what u feel u can do.Take it slow and u will get through this.Good luck.

[Spike2654]

Way to go!!!! FREEEEEEDOM! and like you said, freedom from more than the drug, which is VERY hard!

But now you are a fresh new man, getting healthy, making big steps to a brighter and BETTER future, all of it! and YOU did it! So awesome!!

Keep in touch when you can, but shut that closet door, never open it again...heck, burn it down and don't look back! Congrats m'friend!!

[DuendeDaddy]

In regard to meth withdrawal, I made it. It took longer than it had to, mostly because I was overly concerned about how hard it was going to be. Tapering off just prolongs the process and the misery.

Another thing: when you quit anything, you also have to quit the people who brought it to you, use it with you, or want you to stay engaged with them so they have you in their addict circle. Getting rid of the people can be harder than quitting the drug!

They go out the door together!

Now I'm feeling more like myself, and back on a schedule that will eventually get me back in the physical shape I was in... not too long ago.

Best of luck to you, my friend!

[DuendeDaddy]

Thanks Spike. Very lazy day today. Did nothing.

Feel like I just got a halftime talk from the coach. Yeah!

Appreciate you.

[Spike2654]

Good, get sick of that sh*t!! Like you said, it gets and keeps you focused on the prize ahead...FREEDOM. It's going to be better than good, it's going to be FANTASTIC to be clean again, you KNOW it.
Great work on making those commitments to your people you'll be back with next week...need to show them the strong warrior that you are.
Thinking about you, standing in the gap with you, we are winning this war! Keep us posted!

[DuendeDaddy]

Strangely the issue right now is sleep. Mentally I'm there - sick of this sh*t. When I get angry it helps. I get focused. I'm having a hard time getting to sleep and staying asleep. Just woke up at 1:45 am when I thought I was going to crash like a ton of bricks.
Not really a problem, but weird. Maybe the crash is still coming. Whatever. It's nothing I haven't done before. Just makes me anxious that it's really not happening yet.
When you want it bad you almost look forward to the lethargy, the hunger, the confused thinking. It means you're on your way out.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Damn it's gonna feel good to be clean again!
I've started e-mailing people to let them know I'm coming back. Making commitments.
Did I mention that I'm sick of this sh*t?

[Spike2654]

And good point to you too..."you either quit or you don't". I agree with your guess, haha, yes, get rid of what's left. You go home in less than a week...get rid of that baggage sitting around, it's just going to hang on you and you don't need to carry any extra burdens while you pack, sort and prepare for this transition home. I'm sure that you have TONS to do if you are going home next week, use that to keep moving and motivated as you get that stuff out of your system...that way you can start clean and have a healthy fresh start of the next chapter in your life. You CAN do it, you know you can, so just DO IT! :)

[DuendeDaddy]

Good point, Spike. Thanks! A friend of mine said to me that there is no "trying to quit." You either quit or you don't. Guess I'll have to get what's left out of the house.
Today is Thursday. I'm making plane reservations to go home next Wednesday.

[Spike2654]

Good morning! Usually in life it's mind over matter, but in wd it's matter over mind, because it's the mind games that keep us using and going back. Just sending you some strength and encouragement today to get through, you know what you need to do...get out and stay busy, and get out of your own head for a while! You CAN do this, read your above posts about getting back to where you belong. I know you are speaking geographically and starting this new path after divorce, but you can enforce this in other aspects too, get back to where you belong! I keep a post-it note on my fridge that says "If you don't change today, what will be different in a year from now?" Think about it, implement that change TODAY knowing you'll reap the rewards down the line!
Check in when you can, know I'm praying for you today!

[DuendeDaddy]

I may be over-confident this time. I am having a hard time getting clean. Once I manage that the job of staying clean is easier because I go to my new city (where I moved in April last year).

I don't use there or know anyone who does. It's a geographic fix, but it works.

Good luck, and if you continue to struggle consider a detox center; maybe rehab. I went to a good rehab program in 2011 ( not for meth), and in 30 days it really turned me around.

I'll do detox if I can't quit by next week. That's a motivator!

[Clm1974]

I sure wish I had your confidence in my own efforts to quit meth! I've been battling my addiction since October.  I can make it through the crash but then the depression sets in and my cravings are out of control. This forum has been a life saver to me in that regard. For me it has to be about working my recovery by attending NA meetings and seeking support through all the great people here on MH! It sounds like you have an honest desire to stay clean and that will go a long way! I would advise against using a little to try and get through though. Your body needs the sleep in order to recover or at least mine did! By day 5 you should be feeling much better as far as energy goes. Best wishes to you!

[DuendeDaddy]

Hey, Amanda, Jeff, Spike, Weaver...

Folded yesterday evening and did a little. Off to a good start today by walking the park and doing some leg lifts and push ups. I don't have any problem staying busy - lots to do and I have a writing project that keeps me engaged.

Yes, I've quit four or five times now. Have been able to put together several months of clean time, and like it!!! I lived clean and sober for decades, and that gives me a huge advantage over the young guys I have seen who never got the good habits and coping skills that come with years of clean living.

My immediate challenge is that a long and painful divorce is coming to a conclusion, and I need to leave where I am; go back to where I belong; and finish a recoery program. That means real sobriety; passing UA's; getting back in touch with friends who expect me to be clean, and so on.

Could start a debate here about whether giving yourself a little bit when you're feeling flat on your back or just angry and reactive is a good idea or an excuse to leave the door open to continued use. Obviously it could be the latter, but I have gave myself one "relief" day last time I came down and that was all it was. Still got clean in about 5 days, and was glad I gave myself a break in the middle.

It's available and I'm not after it, as I know what I want. I want my health, my friends, my pre-divorce life, and some special people back in my life. I believe that attraction is more motivating than fear or punishment. I'm an artful dodger when I feel I'm being made to do something, but I'm my own best coach when the person I have to answer to is me.

Fire away.

[Spike2654]

Hey there...glad you found this site. I can't offer much in the way of advice (ignorant on meth wd), but I can with support...keeping you in my thoughts and prayers as you go through this. Sounds like you've gone through this a few times per your last post, but your original post says that you "have to quit now"..I may be way off but the way it's worded is like there is a reason (new job, pass a drug test, etc.) anyways, whatever the reason you posted, I'm glad you did and I hope you get the advice you need, but know there are TONS of great people on here that will be here rooting you on the whole way! Keep posting as you can, it really helps to post and you'd be amazed at how much it helps others reading what you wrote!

Strength and prayers!

[DuendeDaddy]

Hey, thank you! I've come off it a few times, but wasn't sure if I should sleep or walk it off. I'll spend some time in the park.

Can't tell you how much it means just to be able to talk about this. Appreciate the advice.

[Jeff50193]

Well idk about all that said above, idk if you have to go to work during this detox, idk how deep you are into this addiction, i dont really know anything about your situation, but what i do know is that when i was on ice i would go 2 weeks plus with no more than a cat nap, and  worked hard everyday, when i quit i was so physically exhausted that anything but sleeping and eating was out of the question for the first week, and i was irritable as hell for like two months. Keep posting, id love hear the rest of your story, good luck!

[Amandag78]

Energy wise i mean, should be back in 4 days.